AUTHOR AND EDITOR INFORMATION

Section 1 of 11  

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• Introduction
• Clinical
• Differentials
• Workup
• Treatment
• Medication
• Follow-up
• Miscellaneous
• Multimedia
• References

INTRODUCTION

Section 2 of 11  

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• Introduction
• Clinical
• Differentials
• Workup
• Treatment
• Medication
• Follow-up
• Miscellaneous
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Background

Candidal infections are extremely common. Candida albicans is the most common cause of human candidal infections,¹ but other pathogenic species include Candida glabrata, Candida parapsilosis, Candida tropicalis, Candida krusei, Candida lusitaniae, and Candida stellatoidea.

Pathophysiology

Infections caused by Candida may affect numerous organ systems, such as the eyes, lungs, kidneys, heart, and CNS.

Skin

The most common manifestation of candidal infection is diaper dermatitis in infants. Candida organisms can also cause intertrigo in older individuals. Intertrigo has a predilection for dark moist areas, such as the groin or fat folds. Predisposing conditions include diabetes mellitus, obesity, and hyperhidrosis.

Nails

A chronic paronychia may be caused by one of several Candida species. Candida organisms can also cause onychomycosis, including total nail dystrophy due to chronic mucocutaneous candidiasis (CMCC), a rare T-cell disorder.

Mucous membranes

Thrush, or oral candidiasis, is also common in infants. Oral candidiasis may also be an adverse effect from using inhaled corticosteroids for asthma due to oral deposition. Patients who are immunocompromised may suffer from candidal esophagitis as well as thrush.

Genitals

Vaginal yeast infections affect nearly 75% of women. Male partners may develop balanitis or balanoposthitis. Individuals with chronic indwelling catheters are also predisposed to recurrent candidal infections.

Systemic

Candida organisms can cause severe systemic infections in immunocompromised patients, compared with benign cutaneous or localized infections in immunocompetent patients. Reports of systemic candidiasis are common in children with acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS) and other immune deficiencies, as well as in very low birth weight premature infants. Manifestations include fungemia, endophthalmitis, meningitis, renal or bladder bezoars, and arthritis.

Virulence factors

Numerous factors can contribute to the likelihood of candidal infections. An intact skin barrier is protective. Candidal infections are promoted in the face of lymphocyte dysfunction, as is observed in persons with AIDS and those with CMCC. Adherence of Candida organisms to oral and vaginal epithelium is believed to be promoted by biologic factors (eg, fibronectin in thromboses) and by iatrogenic factors (eg, presence of plastic catheters, disruption of normal bacterial flora). In neonates, risk factors include indwelling catheters, prolonged antibiotic use, necrotizing enterocolitis, previous bloodstream infections, total parenteral nutrition, and low birth weight.

Chronic mucocutaneous candidiasis

CMCC is a heterogeneous group of disorders characterized by chronic candidal infections of the nails, skin, and mucous membranes. Most CMCC disorders are autosomal recessive and related to a mutation in the AIRE gene. Lymphocyte numbers are normal; however, response to in vitro exposure to candidal antigen is absent.

Frequency

United States

Thrush occurs in approximately 2-5% of healthy newborns and a slightly higher percentage of infants in the first year of life. Vaginal candidal infections occur in approximately 75% of women, and 40-50% of women experience recurrence. Approximately 2-5% of premature infants weighing less than 1500 g develop disseminated disease.

Mortality/Morbidity

Candidal infections rarely cause significant morbidity in the healthy host. However, systemic disease may be found in as many as 15% of patients who are neutropenic. Mortality in low birth weight premature infants with systemic candidiasis may reach 50%. Candida is the second leading cause of sepsis in critical care patients.

Race

No racial predilection is noted.

Sex

Vaginal candidosis is a frequent problem among women and adolescent girls. No gender predilection is noted in other forms of candidiasis.

Age

In the healthy host, candidal infections are most common in the first year of life as thrush or diaper dermatitis. Vulvovaginitis is more common in adolescent and adult females.

CLINICAL

Section 3 of 11  

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• Miscellaneous
• Multimedia
• References

History

• Thrush: Infants with thrush may experience pain, poor feeding, or fussiness.
• Cutaneous candidiasis
• • Patients with cutaneous candidiasis experience itching, burning, and soreness.
  • Most commonly affected areas are the diaper area in infants and toddlers and abdominal fat folds and groin in older individuals.
• Paronychia and onychomycosis
• • Candidal paronychia and nail disease has a predilection for the fingernails.
  • Paronychia is usually painful.
• Vulvovaginitis
• • Most women with vulvovaginitis complain of a creamy vaginal discharge with soreness and burning.
  • Dyspareunia is often present.
• Otitis externa
• • Otitis externa is found most commonly in tropical and subtropical climates.
  • Malnutrition and immunosuppression are risk factors.
  • Candidiasis is clinically difficult to distinguish from other causes of otitis externa.
• GI candidiasis
• • GI candidiasis is primarily observed in individuals who are immunocompromised, especially in persons with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection and/or primary immunodeficiency.
  • This may be a cause of chronic diarrhea.
  • Common in infants, glossitis may occur in older children following use of broad-spectrum antibiotics or may signal immunodeficiency.
  • Esophagitis should be suspected in individuals who are immunocompromised when oral candidiasis is present. Symptoms include dysphagia and odynophagia. Risk of esophagitis is elevated in children taking H2 blockers.
• Pneumonia: This is extremely rare and usually results from disseminated disease.
• Cystitis: Risk factors for cystitis include indwelling urinary catheters, immunosuppression, diabetes mellitus, and use of broad-spectrum antibiotics.
• Endophthalmitis
• • Endophthalmitis is the most common intraocular infection in newborns.
  • Risk factors include low birth weight and prolonged hospitalization.
• CNS infections
• • CNS infections usually present as subacute meningitis.
  • Risk factors include indwelling catheters (especially shunts), prematurity, malnutrition, immunodeficiency, and organ transplantation.
• Endocarditis: Risk factors for endocarditis include immunosuppression, HIV infection, intravenous catheters, corticosteroid use, prolonged hospitalization, and use of broad-spectrum antibiotics.
• Hepatic (hepatosplenic) candidiasis
• • Risk factors include neutropenia.
  • Hepatic candidiasis may present with fever of unknown origin. It is usually a manifestation of disseminated candidiasis.

Physical

• Thrush
• • White plaques are observed in the mouth and may affect the lips, tongue, gums, and palate.
  • Scraping of the lesions may reveal erythema and bleeding at the base (see Media file 1). The plaques do not scrape off easily.
• Cutaneous candidiasis
• • Lesions consist of beefy-red plaques, often with scalloped borders.
  • Satellite papules and pustules may be observed surrounding the plaques.
  • Maceration is often present, especially in intertriginous areas (see Media file 2).
  • Candidal diaper dermatitis is generally confluent in intertriginous areas, whereas generic diaper dermatitis may demonstrate sparing in the folds.
• Paronychia and onychomycosis
• • Paronychia typically involves the cuticular fold of fingernails, causing redness, swelling, and pain.
  • Pus may be present.
  • Nail involvement usually stems from long-standing paronychia and causes a yellow discoloration of the nail, often with separation of the nail from the nail bed.
• Genital candidiasis
• • With vulvovaginitis, a creamy white discharge is usually present. White plaques may be observed on an erythematous base of the vaginal mucosa or vulvar skin. Papules and pustules may be present.
  • With balanitis, lesions are usually observed on the glans penis and consist of erythematous plaques, pustules, or erosions.
• GI disease
• • Glossitis is characterized by creamy or curdlike white plaques, which may be painful and bleed beneath when scraped.
  • With esophagitis, oral candidiasis may or may not be present. Weight loss is common.
• Otitis externa
• • Tenderness of the pinna, aural discharge, and erythema characterize otitis externa.
  • Lymphadenopathy of postauricular or preauricular nodes may be present.
  • A grayish membrane may be present in the canal.
• Hepatic candidiasis: This infection usually presents as abscesses in the liver and/or spleen.
• Endocarditis
• • Endocarditis is characterized by fever and a new or changing heart murmur.
  • Symptoms relating to embolization to other organs (eg, CNS, kidneys, lungs, retina and choroid, skin) may be present.
• Endophthalmitis
• • White well-circumscribed lesions of the retina and choroid in the posterior pole characterize endophthalmitis.
  • Isolation of candida from blood, urine, or other sources supports the diagnosis of endophthalmitis.
• CNS infections
• • Signs consistent with meningitis are often present with CNS infections.
  • Evidence of candidal infection of other organ systems may be present.

Causes

Candidal infections have differing presentations in patients who are immunocompetent versus persons who are immunocompromised.

• Patient who is immunocompetent
• • Although candidal diaper rash is common in healthy infants, predisposing factors causing candidal infections in older individuals are often present.
  • The most common factor is the disruption of normal flora following a course of antibiotic therapy, which is most commonly observed as cutaneous candidiasis or vulvovaginitis.
  • Other risk factors for candidal infection relate to impaired immune function, including individuals with diabetes mellitus, premature infants, hosts who are immunocompromised, and persons using systemic or topical corticosteroids.
  • Other risk factors include obesity, heat, and excessive sweating.
• Patient who is immunocompromised
• • Individuals who are immunocompromised are more susceptible to oral and cutaneous candidiasis and often have a more severe course.
  • Oral candidiasis may appear as acute or chronic atrophic candidiasis, which causes painful red erosions of the tongue and mucous membranes.
  • Candida species are frequent causes of central venous catheter infections.
  • Immunosuppression may also cause systemic candidiasis, which may present as fungemia or funguria. Candida species may cause fungal bezoars in the kidney or bladder, or candidiasis may cause abscesses in the liver or spleen. Candidal meningitis, arthritis, and endophthalmitis all have been reported.
• Neonates
• • Neonates with very low birth weight are at a higher risk of developing candidemia.
  • Risk factors include low birth weight, broad spectrum antibiotic use, total parental nutrition, previous bloodstream infections, or necrotizing enterocolitis.
• Chronic mucocutaneous candidiasis (CMCC): CMCC is a cluster of disorders of cell-mediated immunity that presents as chronic severe candidal infections of the skin and mucous membranes.

DIFFERENTIALS

Section 4 of 11  

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Other Problems to be Considered

Langerhans cell histiocytosis
Paronychia
Seborrheic dermatitis

WORKUP

Section 5 of 11  

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Lab Studies

The following studies are indicated in candidiasis:

• Potassium hydroxide (KOH) slide preparation: Scrapings of oral or cutaneous lesions may demonstrate budding yeasts with pseudohyphae.
• Cultures
• • Blood culture is highly insensitive; fewer than 15% of patients with disseminated disease have positive blood cultures.
  • Urine culture is often positive in individuals who are immunocompromised and have renal or bladder disease.
  • Culture intravascular devices, especially indwelling catheters and especially in neonates suspected of having sepsis.
• Alpha-glucan assay - Component of fungal cell wall
• D-arabinatol assay - Measures fungal metabolite

Imaging Studies

• Ultrasonography and CT scanning may be helpful in making the diagnosis of disseminated candidal infection in the individual who is immunocompromised, especially for renal, bladder, hepatic, and splenic lesions.
• Endoscopy may be indicated for diagnosis of candidal esophagitis, especially when empiric treatment has failed.

Procedures

• Lumbar puncture is indicated for patients suspected of having candidal meningitis. Findings may include the following:
• • Elevated opening pressure
  • Increased WBC count, often with predominance of lymphocytes
  • Hyphae, which may be observed on Gram stain

TREATMENT

Section 6 of 11  

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Medical Care

Treatment of candidal infections is primarily accomplished with appropriate antifungal drugs.²

Surgical Care

Remove the offending catheter in central venous catheter infection because attempts to treat the infection without its removal are largely unsuccessful and are accompanied by high morbidity and mortality.

Consultations

Consult an infectious disease specialist for patients suspected of having systemic candidal infections, especially in the host who is immunocompromised, and consult an ophthalmologist for suspected endophthalmitis in neonates.

Diet

No specific diet is required.

Activity

No restrictions are required.

MEDICATION

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Candidal infections are sensitive to a broad range of antifungal agents. Nystatin and one of the imidazoles are the most commonly used agents for oral or cutaneous candidiasis. Noting the resistance pattern in your area is important; fluconazole-resistant Candida has been reported. New antifungals include the echinocandins (eg, caspofungin, micafungin, anidulafungin). The mechanism of action of this group is to interfere with the cell wall integrity inhibiting 1,3 alpha-D-glucan synthase. Caspofungin has recently been approved by the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for use in the pediatric population.

Drug Category: Topical antifungals (oral preparations)

These agents are used for the treatment of oral candidiasis (thrush).

Drug Category: Topical antifungals (dermatologic)

These agents are used to treat cutaneous candidiasis.

Drug Category: Systemic antifungals (oral)

These agents are used for treatment of cutaneous infections refractory to treatment by topical agents or as adjunctive therapy for systemic candidal infection.

Drug Category: Systemic antifungals (intravenous)

The mechanism of action may involve an alteration of RNA and DNA metabolism or an intracellular accumulation of peroxide that is toxic to the fungal cell.

FOLLOW-UP

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Transfer

• Transfer of patients with candidiasis is appropriate if the required level of care is not locally available.

Deterrence/Prevention

• The risk of candidal diaper rash may be reduced by preventing irritant diaper dermatitis by using absorbent diapers and preventing excessive exposure to urine or feces.
• Encourage parents to appropriately clean their infant's bottles while they are treated for thrush.
• Encourage asthma patients to rinse their mouth after using their corticosteroid inhaler.
• Keep hands dry; when wet work is unavoidable, use rubber gloves with cotton liners. Response is generally quite good to topical azoles.
• Cutaneous candidiasis may be prevented by keeping areas cool and dry and by using breathable fabrics (eg, cotton).
• Fluconazole is used extensively in patients with neutropenia, persons undergoing organ transplantation, and in extremely low birth weight infants.^{3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8} Although found to be generally safe in these populations and able to reduce candidal colonization, effect on survival has been minimal. New studies show prophylactic doses of fluconazole given in the newborn intensive care setting may prevent candidemia and colonization in high-risk patients.

Prognosis

• Prognosis for oral or cutaneous candidiasis is excellent with appropriate medical treatment.
• Systemic candidiasis, especially in low birth weight premature infants, carries a high rate of morbidity and mortality. Even with appropriate treatment, mortality may reach 50% in this population.

Patient Education

• For excellent patient education resources, visit eMedicine's Yeast and Fungal Infections Center; Children's Health Center; and Skin, Hair, and Nails Center. Also, see eMedicine's patient education articles Candidiasis (Yeast Infection), Yeast Infection Diaper Rash, and Yeast Infection Skin Rash.

MISCELLANEOUS

Section 9 of 11  

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Medical/Legal Pitfalls

• Candidiasis in an individual without known risk factors (eg, infant, immunocompromised state, diabetes, obesity) should prompt a search for such factors, especially immunodeficiency and HIV infection.

MULTIMEDIA

Section 10 of 11  

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Media file 1:  Typical appearance of thrush. Note multiple white plaques on lips, gingivae, tongue, and palate.
	View Full Size Image
Media type:  Photo

Media file 2:  Candidal diaper dermatitis. Note satellite papules and involvement of intertriginous folds.
	View Full Size Image
Media type:  Photo

REFERENCES

Section 11 of 11

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Article Last Updated: Nov 20, 2008